TIGHT SECURITY AT SUPREME COURT

There was heavy police presence at the Supreme Court where the NPP's legal action challenging the validity of President Mahama commenced.

Posted on: www.dailyguideghana.com

By William Yaw Owusu

Friday January 11, 2013

There was tight security at the Supreme Court premises in Accra where the petition filed by the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) to challenge the election of President John Dramani Mahama was being heard.

As early as 6 am, police with tanks surrounded the court building while National Security operatives screened people accredited to observe the proceedings like it is done in airports and other restricted areas.

About 100 police officers at the premises mostly had riot control equipment including weapons while the other security officers were also armed.

The landmark case attracted the attention of Ghanaians as well as journalists both local and international and the security regulated traffic in the courtroom during the hearing.

Even some court clerks and other Judicial Service staff had a torrid time entering the premises to do their work. Litigants were also not spared of the security scrutiny.

The process of accreditation put in place for journalists and others appeared to have helped to maintain security at the place.

DAILY GUIDE gathered that the number of accreditations available equaled the 150 seats in the courtroom.

Photo Journalists were busy outside the courtroom especially as the audience filed out of the courtroom.

The photo journalists and reporters had a hectic time going closer to some of the two parties’ gurus as they were prevented from getting closer to them or taking pictures by security officials.

There had been some renovation works including the changing of carpets and paintings of court 21, popularly called the Chief Justice’s Court where the matter was to be heard.

Mrs. Grace Tagoe, Director of Communications of the Judicial Service, explained that the renovation work at the court was not in respect of the NPP petition but rather the court would from henceforth serve as the Supreme Court where only constitutional matters are heard. 

The original Supreme Court located in the upper floor of the building, she said would be used for all other cases.